Inside Alcatraz: My Time on the Rock

by Jim Quillen

Overview

One man's searing account of life inside the world's most notorious prison, from desperation to redemption

Each day we saw the outside world in all its splendour, and each day that view served as a reminder that we had wasted and ruined our lives.

Jim Quillen, AZ586—a runaway, problem child, and petty thief—was jailed several times before his 20th birthday. In August 1942, after escaping from San Quentin, he was arrested on the run and sentenced to 45 years in prison, and later transferred to Alcatraz. This is the true story of life inside America's most notorious prison—from terrifying times in solitary confinement to daily encounters with "the Birdman," and what really happened during the desperate and deadly 1946 escape attempt.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784750664
Publisher:	Random House UK
Publication date:	02/01/2016
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Jim Quillen (1919-1998) had a difficult childhood; by the time he was an adolescent, he was regularly getting into serious trouble. At 22—chained at the wrists and sentenced to 45 years behind bars—he saw the inside of Alcatraz Island for the first time. Many years later Quillen returned to the island, which by that time was part of the National Park Srevice system. For several years he was one of the island's most popular volunteers—retelling his story as part of the audio tour, and sharing his past with visitors fascinated with his life experiences.

Table of Contents

Author's Note 1

Preface 3

1 Growing Up Fast 7

2 The Beginning of Trouble 28

3 The Reformatory 48

4 United States Marine Corps 59

5 Armed Robbery 63

6 The Big House 73

7 Escape 77

8 On the Run 84

9 Capture 108

10 Introduction to Alcatraz 120

11 Alcatraz Early Years 134

12 Attempted Escape 156

13 Busted 173

14 Rebellion in D Block 180

15 Prelude to Breakout 185

16 For Want of a Key 200

17 Bad Marksmanship 219

18 Bail Out 229

19 Running Out of Options 237

20 The Final Hours 255

21 Survivors 266

22 Taking Stock 271

23 New Beginning 277

24 Major Changes 297

25 Life after Prison 332

Appendix: Alcatraz Escape Attempts 349

Acknowledgments 374